Mechanism for forming and assembling snap-fastener springs



A. J. LEWIS. MECHANISM FOR FORMING AND ASSEMBLING SNAP FASTENER SPRINGS.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET l- APPUCATION FILED AUG-5| I916.

ATTORNEY A. J. LEWIS. MECHANISM FOR FORMlNG AN'D ASSEMBLING SNAPFASTENER SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5| I916.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

a SHEE TS SHEET 2.

Arroknmx A. J. LEWIS.

MECHANISM FOR FORMING AND ASSEMBLING SNAP FASTENER SPRINGS.

Patented Aug. 31,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5; 1916.

I IIVVENTUR f ATTORNEY ARTHUR I. LEWIS, or sT RATEonn;'coiiimg mw; Q H-t; I coM'lPANY oF BBIDGEPORT,"CONNECTICUT, A; 'coRPomr'rioN orcomzrncrroun l' 'MEGHANISM FOR roijuvrrne Ann essnmi'a'tme sNABFAsTEnnnSPRINGS.

To all whom concern: I I :Be it known'that I, ARTHUR- J. L'nwrs, a

citizen of the United States-residing at "Stratford, county of'Fairfield, State of" Connecticut, have'invente'd an. Improvement} in'Mechanism for' Forming and Assembling Snap-Fastener followingv .is aspecification. I I.

' Y liable automatic mechanism for forming the V springs from blanks ofwire and fora'ssem- This invention relates-to the manufacture of thesocket members" of snap fasteners, so called, the socket members'o'fwhichare pro- 7 '1 vided with wire springs ofp'eculia'r' formationwhichlock-theflshank's' of the other fas [tener members inengagementiwithf the; socket members, and the inventionhas for itsobject to provide quick operatin g, and re bling them in the socketmembers; In the accompanying drawings a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a planyiew of my novel autoy matic mechanism partly brokenaw ay, show ing the position ofthe parts at the endof the spring-formingoperation and before? the assembling operationg Fig; 2 a section on th ieez'ifn Fig. 1;

lookingin the direction ofthearrows p Fig. 2 a detail sectional View onthe line '22 in Fig. 2, sh'owingthe sidecams as providedgwith bumps toproduce a spring setting movement'of the jaws; I

Fig. 3 a sect'on'on the line in Figgl. v V g v v 1116211137 f. e lfi gfik mf 32' onthe cam mem-f looking in the direction ofthearrows E Fig.4adetail plan iew show-ing'the jaws,

forming punch and form in their normal position and a lan 1? wirejinposition to: :be operated upon; r

,IFig. 5 a similaryiew showingthe position partly completed theformation of aspring;

Fig. 7 a View of the spring asformed by the cooperation of the jaws,forming punch and form";

Fig, 8 a partial plan yiew showing theposition of the parts after thefo'rm has been retracted and the j aws'have carried the completed springto the assembling position.

bIing'a' spring in thes'ocket member Springs, of which the 1 formingbed; 22 a slide adapted toreciprocatelongi I Y tudinallyinway's'jln'slide- 21. and independof the parts when the jaws havecompleted their portion ofthe'forming operation 1 V v Fig. 6 asimilarview, the punch ,h-a'vi ngj" ing} serews ee whichf engagesidecams 3'1 on opposite sides 'ofjjthe cam member. These Lwhich areo'p'ene'dby a spring'BS connected} V v v 100 and actftodrajw; the'rearends of said 'levers snapffastener; 7 I p Fig; 10 a detail lan view andFig. '11 La; 1

detail' se'ctional yiew on an} enlarged I scale" showing the, positionof [the wirej spring f r Z 6 bIank'rel'atiVeIytO onerjjaw andthe form;when the forming operation commences;

'Fig. 12 an, elevation and' Fig lBan verte'd plan View of the assemblingpunch V; l;'

Fig. 14 end View oflthlel form;

"Fig. 15 a View correspondlng lwith -Fig.8',

Specification-of LettersPatent. Fate'nted -Al ig 319 1920. I"Application filed August-.5;ieie se iaino. 1133153. 3

- ispartly 'biokefifaweygijin the act of see; i

. v v, 5 showing the substitution of a rotaryfholder, i 7'foifallreci'procatingholder. .Fig. 161 a cen tral; sectional Viewcorresponding therewith;

andFig. 17 Iis an-"enlarged detail sectional 7 in the; direction of thearrow. 5

view'on the line 1711117, in'Fig. 9, looking 20 denotesjth'eibed, 211aslide 7 reciprocate longitudinally 'in Ways, in" the ently thereof, 23jaws carried by levers 2' tii pivotedftojislide' 21'g'as Pat .2i5gilfnd26; the

formingl'punch which-is carried by slide 2 2;}?

The jaw leyers and both slides are operated bymeans offla cam member 27carried by'la driving shaft 28 journal ed in the bed. Slide 21isproyided with a) rearwardly'eXt-end-j ing arm 29 carrying a roller 30which e11 1 V gages "a groove 3i the cam fmember' wherebyreclp'roc'atory' movement is impart;

ed tofsaid slide. Slide 22 is reciprocateidj by nectedto' slide'QQQ-and'to a 35 extending of thejaw'lever's are proyidedwith adjustcame. act toforce. the rear ends of the jaWil levers. outward andfthus. close thejaws;

to the jaw'leversiback'of thei'r pivotal point toward each other andthus o enthekij awsj,

slide 21 limit the inward mov'e rnentbf the 1 1' W ve s. ae lwe i u h Weg? when the adjusting screwshrideidown the f inclines of tjhe side cams,Stop pins 39 in.

movement of the jaws. 40 denotes the form for springs which is adaptedto be recipro cated vertically infthe bed by suitable operatingmechanism, not shown as specifically it forms no portion of the presentinvention. The forward end of the form passes through a hardened plate41 secured to the bed... The

is provided ith'a .sockettti to receive the articles in which'thesprings are to be assembled, and which I term spring-receiving articles, (in the [present instance the fastener members''Qand carriesthem to the spring receiving or assembllng pos1t1on,'as w ll be more Ifully explained. f

In the formillustratedin Figs. 1,2, 8 and 9, the holder is a slideadapted to reciprocate in away in the bed. i In Figs. 15 and 16, I haveillustrated afor'm in which a rotary holder is used in lieu ofreciprocating holder. .65 denotesa disk provided with sockets 66, toreceive the articles and mount edto rotateon a stud 67, and 68 denotes afriction washer bearing upon the face ofthe disk. The disk isprovided inits edgewith notches 70, adapted to be'enga'ged by a pawl 69,1controlledby a spring 72. The pawl is pivoted to a slide 71, whichis' adapted toreciprocate ina way in the bed. A hardened plug jt8', seated'in'the bed,forms a base for the socket in the assembling position The. operativeportions of the jaws are provided with half sockets 49 which togetherform a socket which receivesthe form in the spring; forming operationand through which the assembling punch 50 passes in the assemblingoperat on, as Wlll be moreifully explained. In thebacks of the awsand'surrounding their half sockets andfextending across the "tops of theoperative portions of the jaws are" I )p p 9, the holder moves towardtheto the grooves 51 adapted toreceive the wire spring blank," Theassembling punch has reciprocatj-ory movement imparted to it 1n a path'vertical to the bed'jbysuitableoperating mechanism. L This punch.operating. me'chaQ nism and the wire feeding mechanism arenotj'shofwmasspecifically they form no poi tionof thepr'esent'invention, it being deemed .suflicientior the purposes of thisspecificatijon to-state that the wiremay be. fed to the machine in anyordinary or preferred manner and that the assembhngfpunch may beoperated by any suitable mechanism. The

. wire is fed to the machine through a quill 52,

each operation of the feeding mechanism supplying just therequiredlength of wire to form a springblank. The instant the feedingoperation cease's,a cutteri53 coiiperating with the forward 'end of thequill cuts off the blank. 1 1 Any ordinary or preferred form offeedingand cutting-0E mechanism may be biing punch.

used. The shape of the form will becle arly understood from Fig. 14;,which is an end elevation. The external contour is circular;

lVithin this circular contour the is mllled. out to form alongltudinal-recess indicated by 54. At the base of the recess is a sitesides of groove 5 5 are rounded longitudinal grooves 56 nto'whlch theWET-30f the spring blank is pressed by the. form ng punclnaswill bemorefully explained. Q The sides ofthe'form comprise, upwardly extendingarms 57 which are rounded at their up per ends (about which the wireiofthe bla'nk is curved), and which incline inward toward each other, thelower portion 'ofrecess being Wider than the upper portionif- The" holein plate ll through which'the form passes corresponds substantially inconfiguration with the configuration of the form. Theshape of theassembling punch will be clearly understood from Figs. 12 and 13, the

essential requirement being that'the end of the punch be so shaped as toremove the' formed springs from {the jaws and deposit" them in thefastener'members. I have shown the face of the assemblingpunch'as provided with a hole 58 surroundedby a rib' 59.

from which wings 60 and'61, alinement, extend to the edge of the face..Hole 58 is 7 provided'to receive the tip of the central stud of,a"fastener member, The rib and wings comprise the bearlng portions of theasscm The r b bearson'the loops ct the spring, and thewings pass betweenthe 'aws rib 59 en 'a in 'the'central ortion of J 7 b ti 3 I the"spring, wing 60 engaging the periphery of the spring and wing 61 engagng the ends The article holder, shown of the spring.

only in the assembling position, recip'roc'ates 1n-its way transverselytoslides 21 and 22. 1 From the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 andreceiving position where the 'sp 7 7 f-J lng art cles are placed in thesockets by siut- I able ffeedingmec'hamsm. 1 'From' the IGC6lV v 1 ingposition the'article holder moves to the;

assembling position and after the assembling operatlompresently to bedescribed, returns again to the receiving'position where the mechanism,nor. the ejecting mechanism is shown, as specifically these mechanismsform 7 i no porti'onlof'the present invention 7 Starting wlth the aws"and .iiOIHllZU o J I? punch inthe position shown "in-Fig.- at, a feedingoperation takes place leaves a bi'anl of wire in position'to be operatedupon, as in Figs. 4, 10 and 11, the blank ly by cooperation of thejews,- term and'plate 41. Next-'i' ollowsa retraction ofslide 21 whichcauses the 'j'etwsto move" backward from the position shown in Fig"; 4toward that in Fig. 5, and bend thejblank over the The movementof theslide is followed by a closing movement 'of the jaws; which-cla'sps theblank aboutthe form-and over the ends of arms57, the blank now 13 ing inthe socket fol-med by' half sockets 49,

form.

with the ends of the blan'kfextending' outward and lying on oppositesides of the tongue of the forming punch and in notches 43 "Next followsa forwardmovement'of slide 22 and the formingpunch; The ends of theblank will now be pushed'forward by the iorining punch, as shown in Fig.'6',

the arms of the blank bent inward over arms means .for moving the ]=2LWScarry ng ethe-V completed" springkto the assembling pos t1on 3 'aholderforxca rrying spring-yreceivmg;

57 and folded into recess54', the movement continuing untilthe formingpunchreachw the position shown. in, Fig. 1; Loops 62bit the completedspring; indicated by '63'; will now lie ingroov'es, 56 in the formand-the tongue of the forming punch will be received in groove intheform, the ends of'the springlying' parallel with .e'ach other on op'posite sides ofthe tongue", as clearly shown in Fig. 1 Theforr'n nowmoves backward to the position shown Fig. 9, the tongue, jaws and springremaining as. in Fig. 1. WVhile the parts are" inf this position and before the assembling'operation, I mayor may not, depending uponconditions,fimpart a clos ng movement tothejaws, th'e'efiect of: whichis to set the spring to the shapezin which it-has beenformediwhil'e theends of the spring are still separat'edby the tongue.

This setting movement fof the' jaws is: 'ef- 'fected by providingsi'de'cains 37 with bumps f (-see Fig. 2 the function of which is tocause a quickysetting movement or squeeze of the jaws, after which theyreturn to the position shown in Figfil'; Slide'21 and the jaws now movefromthe' position shownv in I Fig. l to that showiiin Fig. 8', carryingthe completed spring {to the assembling position. An instant later slide22 a ndthe forming punchwill move backward from the po-' 'sition shownin Fig. 1 to the position shown inFig/ i. Holder lowi-th a spfing-r'ceiving ar'ticlein the socket will now'bje'in the' assembling position andthe assembling pleted spring.-

' punch which is suitably adapted for the.

purpose will move forward and pass into the formed by half sockets 49'in the jawsand engage the spring; whichis carried forward out of thejaws by the assembling punch and is seated in the spring-receivingsocket article lying in the socket in the holder. 7 The assembling punchnow: moves backward to. its normal positio'n'and the jaws first openoutward and then return to their normal posit1on as 111 Fig. e. Theholder now moves to the receiving position-and the fastener bl-ingsprings comprising a' form; jaws, means for causing the jaws tofi'rstmove relatively to the form to' bend ablank of anh'ovedtrom the jaws andassembled mam-,

the" endsof thejaws anol'for'inin'g punch will now come Inence' the"formation oi. another spring, I these operations being. continuously re-Peated.-. Y Having claim: a,

1, 1; Mechanism for; forming and assem wire overthe form, and thenclosefand; clasp the blank about the form,v a' forming punch whichcompletes the formation' oiiithe spring; I 1

articles to'the assembling position; and assembling-punch wherebysprings arefrecles inthe'holdei't 1 2. Mechanism for forming springscompris i ing a: recessed form, jaws which move rela v tively to theform and bendablan kof' wire over it; and then close and clasp 'theblank,

extending outward, and a forming punch which pushes the ends of theblank inward v and causes the arms of the-tblanktoptold into the recessthG fOIlIl tolcompl te the o-g v 1 1 spring. a s

form to complete the; springgi the blank to fold into'fthe recess he v p42'. Mechanism for forming :gprmggicom?' j prising a form longitudinal gre g:

I cess with grooves iirits baseg 'ja'ws whichf I bend a blan kof wire-'over the tormguleaving theyends "of the blank extending o'uttormin g'punch which pushes 115 ward;

the blankinw'ard and causes; 7 the"-arms fo the blank toi fold 'into-the grooves to impart theirshape to the come 5. Mechani in'its base,--aws which bend ablankof wire Y i over the form, leaving theends ofthe'bl-ankof the'bla'nk, the punch acting to push the ends-of the blankinwardand cause the arms-- 0f. the blank to fold intothe said' Side st.75": thus; described my invention, In

:95: H aboutthe form, leaving the 'endsoftheblank 'nr-for formingsprings? min 1 prising aform-shaving a longitudinal re: p cess w1th' acentral groove" andside-grooves grooves, for the purpose set forth, the

tongue being received in the central groove.

6. Mechanism for forming sprlngs compr1s1ng a form havlng a longitudlnalrecess and upwardly and lnwardly extending arms, jaws which moverelatively to the form and bend a blank of wire over the form and thenclose and clasp the blank about the formyleaving the ends of the blankextending outwardly, and a forming:

punch having tongue lying between the ends of the blank, the punchacting to push the ends of the blank inward and fold the arms of theblank over the arms of the form and into the recess to shapethe spring.

7. Mechanism for forming springs comrisin a recessed form 'awswhichbenda'-bla1'1l -ofwvire over the 'form and then close and clasp theblank about the form,

leaving the ends of" the blank extending outward, a forming punch whichpushes the ends of the blank inward and causes the arms of the blank tofold intothe recess in the form, and means for imparting a secondclosing movement of the jaws to set tending' outward, a forming punchwhich pushes the ends of the blank inward and causesrthe arms of theblank to fold into the recess in the form, said punch being providedwith a; tongue lying between the ends of the blank,"and means for,imparting a second closing movement'to thejawsto set the spring after"retraction of the form.

s 9. Mechanism for forming and assembhng springs comprislng arecessedremp rocating form, aws. which bend a blank of wire over'theform, leaving the ends of the blank extending outward, a forming punchwhich pushes the ends of the blank inward and-causes the armsof theblank to; foldqinto'the recess in-the 'form to com-- plete the spring,:a holder forv carrying spring receiving articles tothe assembling positon, means for movlng the aws with thelspnng therein tothe assembling pos"tion, and an assembling punch whereby V springs are removed from theawsand assembled in articles in the holder;

10. Mechanism of the character described comprising-,incombination, aform, jaws V which bend a blank of wire over the form, -andaformingpunchhaving notches which are engagedby the ends of the blank to complete-theformation of the spring by pushing the ends of the blank inward.

: comprising,

11. Mechanism of the character described in comblnatlon, a recessedform, means forbendlng a blank of-wlre over the form, anda punch whichengages V the ends of the blank and completes the formation of thespring by folding the blank into the recess in the form.

12. Mechanism of the characterdescribed comprising, in combination, aform, means for bending a blank of wire cover the form," anda punchwhich engages the ends ofthe,

blank and completes the formation'iof-the spring by pushing against theends of the blank in its forward 'movement.

13. llechanis'm of the character described comprising, in combination, arecessed form,

jaws which bend a blank of wire over the form, leav ng the endsextending outward, and a forming punch having a tongue lying so Ibetween the-"arms of the blank andnotches engaged by the ends of theblank, movement of the punch causing the arms of the blank to fold intothe recess intheform cip'rocating form, aws which bend a blank of wireover the form, leav1ngth eends extending outward, a forming punch whichpushes the ends. of the blank inward and p Q35 14L. Mechanism ofthe'character described COIllPIflSlIlg, in combination, a recessedreca'usesithe armsof the blank' to fold into. the recess in thejform,and means 'forimparting a closing movement of the jaws l after the formis retracted'to set the spring.

15. Mechanism of the character described comprising, in combination, arecessed reciprocating form, jaws which bend ablank tending outward, aforming punch which pushes the'endslof the blankinward and of wire overthe form, leaving the ends. ex-

causes the arms of the blank to fold into the recess in theform, aholder for spring- 7 receiving articles, and means for removing thespring from the jaws and assembling it in a spring-receiving articlecarried by the holder.

16. Mechanism of the 'character described 3 comprising, in combination,a-- recessed re clprocatlng form, JZLWS wh ch bendablank of wire overthe form, leaving the ends ex- 9 tending outward, a forming punch wh chpushes the ends of the blanklnward and 7 causes thefarmsof the blank tofold into the f recess in the form, a holder'for spring-re-' ceivingarticles, means 3; for placing the 1 spring and holder 1n assemblingrelation-to each other, and an assembling punch "00- operating; with theholder.

'17. Mechanism of the characterdescribedcomprising, in: combination, aform,'jaws,

levers by which the jaws are carried, operat ing means for the jaws, aslide to which the levers are pivoted, a forming punch "cooperating withthe form, a slide by which "said punch is carried, aholder' having asocket for sprlng-recelvlng articles, means for placing the spring andholder. in assembhng relation to each other, and an assembling punchcooperating with the holder.

means for imparting a setting movement to to move relatively form, jaws,having 18. Mechanism of'the characterdescribed 1 comprising,incombination, a reciprocating form, jaws, levers by which the jaws arecarried, means for opening and closing the jaws, a slide to whichthelevers are pivoted,

" a forming punch cooperating with the form,

a slide bywhich said punch-is carried,

blank of wire,

' the form, and means for imparting a clos- I over the form,

j I moved from the jaws 50,

7 7 comprising the socketed cups, I port, a pair of comprising, incombination, a reciprocating form, jaws blank of wire, means for causingthe 'jaws' V to move relatively to the form shaped aboutover the supportwiththe ment with a cup carried by ing movement to the jaws after theform is retracted to set the spring. a 7

20,, Mechanism of the character described having grooves to receive aandbend the blank overthe form, means for closing the aws, a formingpunch cotiperating with the 1 form, a holder for spring-receivingarticles, means for placing the spring andholder in, assembling relationto each other, and an as.- sembling punch 1 cooperating g with theholder. V

21. Mechanism of the character described. comprising, in combinatiom'areciprocating form, jaws having groovesto receive a blank of wire, meansfor causing the jaws to move relatively to, the form and bend the blankmeans 'for closing thejaws, a forming punch cooperating withtheform, aholder having; sockets to carry spring-receiving articles, meansforplacing the spring and holder in assemblmgrelation to each other, andan assembling punch hav-o ingon its face a circular-rib with wingsexwhereby a spring 7 is .rei and I assembled in an article carriedby theholder. 7

'22. A machine tending therefrom,

for makmg'snap fasteners combination of a support for, a form adjacentto the sup members movable toward-the form to shape about the form,"apiece :of wire fed'to a position adjacent to theform, means forwithdrawing the form from between the pair of members so that the springthe form is held bythemem-o bers, means for-moving the members .to carrythe spring held thereby to a position spring'in alinethe support, and

reciprocating plunger movable into the space between the two 'membersinto engagemoving portions oft-the piece of-wire near 7 the ends thereofinto the -reces's in the form, V Y :means' for withdrawing the-Eformfrom be- :carried, by them to move-the e spring carried thereby. andmove it ment with the spring by them to movethe spring bodily into thecup on the comprising; the combination of a support for socketed'cups,aform adjacent to the support about the form, .a pieceof wire fed to apositionadjacentto the form mea'ns for tween the members,l=means*formoving the members r laterally pto carry' 'the formed members intoengagement with the spring.

into a cup on the support.

having a recess on oneside', a pair'of members movable toward the formto shape so 7 spring over said support in alinement with q a; cupcarried by the-support,and a recipro f-catin'g plunger movable betweenthe '24. A machine forma'king snap fasteners comprising thecombination-of asupport for a socketed cup, aj

, port, 'a pair of members, means for relatively moving sa d members andthe formto bend formadjacent to the lll 7 i about :the form,,a length ofwire fed between' the form and said members, means for moving themembers toward'the' form] Y to press the wire about the form, means forII1 0V1I1g the form from between themembers, zmeans fOrmovmgthe memberslaterally to carry the formed springoverjthe supportin I alinementwithazcupcarried-by the support, I

"and a" reciprocating plungermovable bespringbodily into a cup" on thesupport,

7' tween themembers into engagement with e the spring carried thereby tomovethe i port, a pair of pivoted-levers, means for:

moving the levers laterally to bend. about 1 the form. a lengthofwirebetween the form V and thelevers and for then moving the leversabeut their pivots to press the wire spring, held by them'over thesupport in {upon the form, means forthen withdrawing theform frombetween thelevers and mov -3 L ing thelevers laterally to vgcarry theformedflf alinement lwith a socketed cup carried by 7 the support, anda]recip rocatingz member movable between-the levers to' engage'the into[a socketed cup on thesupport,

r I 0? 26; Amachine 'fOI' mak ngsnap fasteners l comprising thecombination of .a support for Q d WP a spr g-f min mechanism f adacentto thesupportjfor bending a piece- Q of wire to form .a spring,oniefof the elements;

of the. spring-forming mechanismconstitut 'i a ing a holderfor theformed spring having 1 an openingl' ther'ethrough in which they formedspring is held, means forfmoving the holderwith the spring thereinlaterally to carry the-spring over ,the said support in alinement Withttcup on the support, and a reciprocating plunger movable throughtheopening in the holder into engagement With ;a spring therein to move thespring bodily into the alined, cup on the support.

27; In a machine for making snapifasteners, a spring-forming mechanismand means for inserting the springs formed thereby into, socketed "cups,said spring-forming mechanism comprising the combination of'a formhaving a curved surface on one side anda recess on the others1'de,-means for I pending a length. ofwlre about the curved surface ofthe form, a die having a projection andshoulders on opposite sides ofthe g :28. In a machine projection and means i t'or moving the dietoward the form to cause the projection thereof to enter the recessinthe'formand the shoulders on the diet'o' engage the ends ofthe Wire.

for makmg snap fastensocketed cups,-said spring-forming mecha-V 'ers, aspring-forming mechanism and means for inserting the springs formedthereby in nism comprising the combination of aform having a curvedsurface on one side and a recess on'tne other slde, a pan 'oi members atopposite sides of the form, 3 means for I moving themembers, and-theform relatively to .bend' about the curved surface of the form a pleceof Wire fed hetweenthe ,form and said members and for then moving the 7members toward each other. to press the Wire against the s'urfaceof theform, a die having 35 .a projection and shoulderslggat opposite sides ofthe projection andmeans for movingthe .die toward the form to enter the.recess

